Beschreibung:

An Illustrated Esther Scroll from Amsterdam, ca. 1720 ink on parchment. height 8 in.; length 72 in. 21 cm; 182 cm Text written in square ashkenazic script within printed borders, 4 membranes stitched together. Mounted on a turned and carved wooden roller, lower handle lacking. This skillfully engraved and hand-colored Dutch scroll was produced in Amsterdam in the first decades of the eighteenth century. Finely detailed narrative scenes from the book of Esther unfold along the lower border and portraits of the characters of the Purim story are presented in cartouches above the text. The beautifully decorated opening panel contains the benedictions recited before the reading of the scroll, surrounded by a series of illustrations including Esther and Ahasuerus seated on a double throne, the hanging of Bigthan and Teresh, Mordecai refusing to bow down to Haman, Haman leading Mordecai through the streets of Shushan on a horse, Esther and Mordecai writing the Purim letter, and the hanging of Haman and his ten sons. The final column contains the blessing recited after completing the reading of the scroll as well as the concluding hymn Asher Heni. parchment